CHAPTER 9

Antioxidants and Autoxidation

 Introduction
• Cells are made up of molecules which consists
of one or more atoms of one or more elements
joined together by chemical bond.
• When weak bond splits, it leaves unpaired
which is called free radical.
• Examples: Superoxide anion radicals(O2 •–),
nitric oxide radicals(•NO), singlet oxygen(O–)
and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)
 Introduction…
 These free radicals are formed as a normal products
of aerobic metabolism in a cell.
 But when produced at higher level under different
pathophysiological condition these highly unstable
and reactive free radicals capable of damaging
macromolecules of the cells due to oxidative stress
 Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and
antioxidants in the body.
 However, to protect against harmful effects of these
free radicals, the cells have protective molecules
called antioxidant.
 Oxidation and reduction
Oxidation Reduction
• Addition of oxygen • Addition of hydrogen
• Removal of hydrogen • Removal of oxygen
• Loss of electron • Gain of electron
 Autoxidation
• Autoxidation: spontaneous oxidation of
compounds by direct combination with oxygen (as
in air) at ordinary temperatures.
• The rancidity of fats and oils is caused by
autoxidation
• Antioxidant is used to prevent oxidation and
rancidity
 Antioxidant
• An antioxidant is an agent that is added to
pharmaceutical preparation to prevent oxidation
and subsequent spoilage of drugs.
• It is a molecule capable of inhibiting the
oxidation of other molecules.
• Oxidation reactions can form free radicals and
these start chain reactions that damage cells .
• Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by
removing free radical intermediates and inhibit
other oxidation reactions
 Ideal requirements of antioxidants

• It should prevent oxidation of product

• It should effective in low concentration
• It should stable
• It should nontoxic and non-irritant
• It should not cause allergic reaction
• It should not affect color, odor and taste of preparation
• It should be compatible with ingredients, container and
closure
• It should physiologically inert
• It should be cheap and easily available
 Mechanism of antioxidant
 Antioxidants can decrease the oxidative damage;
 Directly via reacting with free radicals
 Indirectly by inhibiting the activity or
expression of free radical generating enzymes or
enhancing the activity or expression of
intracellular antioxidant enzymes
 Classification of antioxidant
1. Organic antioxidant 2. Inorganic antioxidant
 They have antimicrobial  They act as reducing agents
property  They prevent oxidation and get
 They can prevent spoilage of oxidized themselves
products a) Sulfur dioxide
a) Tocopherols b) Nitrogen
b) Phenols c) Hypophosphoric acid
c) Parabens d) Sodium meta bisulfate
d) Gallic acid e) Sodium thiosulfate
 Hypophosphoric acid

• Molecular formula: H₃PO₂

• Molecular weight: 66 a.m.u
Physical property
 It is colorless or slightly yellow liquid
 Odorless
 Syrupy, become solid at 17.6 °C and melts at 26.5
°C
 Miscible with water, alcohol and ether
 Monobasic reducing agents
 Hypophosphoric acid…

Pharmaceutical uses
 It was used as brain and nerve tonic
 It is used as antioxidant in pharmaceutical
preparations
 Sodium meta bisulfate

• Molecular formula: Na2S2O5

• Molecular weight: 190.107 g/mol
Physical property
 It is colorless or yellowish crystal
 Has odour of SO2
 Has acid saline taste
 Freely soluble with water and slightly soluble
alcohol
 Sodium meta bisulfate…

Pharmaceutical uses
 It is used in injection as antioxidant to prevent
oxidation of phenol.
 It is used as antioxidant to preservation of food
materials.
 It has been used topically in treatment of
dermatological problems.
 Sulfur dioxide

• Molecular formula: SO2

• Molecular weight: 64.066 g/mol
• Prepared by burning of sulfur in air.
Physical property
 It is colorless, non inflammable gas
 Has pungent odor
 Its aqueous solution is acid to litmus.
 miscible with water
 Stored in strong metallic cylinder
 Incompatible with oxidizing agent
 Sulfur dioxide…
Uses
 It is used as antioxidant
 It is used as stabilizer in soft drink
 It has been used in refrigerator
 Used in fermentation
 Used in treatments of tonsillitis with glycerin
 Nitrogen
• Molecular formula: N2
• Molecular weight: 14.0067 g/mol.
Physical property
 It is colorless
 non inflammable gas
 Inert gas
 miscible with water
 Stored in black painted airtight cylinder
 Nitrogen…
Uses
 It is used as antioxidant for preservation of
liquid dosage form
 It is used to replace air containers for
parenteral and solutions for topical application
 It has been used to retard oxidation in
qualitative test for carbon monoxide
 Sodium thiosulfate

• Molecular formula: Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O.

• Molecular weight: 158.11 g/mol
Physical property
 It is colorless, transparent crystal
 Soluble with water, insoluble in alcohol
 Stored in tightly closed light resistant
container
 Incompatible with oxidizing agent
 Sodium thiosulfate…
Uses
 Antioxidant
 Antidote
 Treatment for iodine toxicity
 In skin disorder
 Laboratory agent
THANK YOU